Odometer



, 1,484,501 E. R. HUNTLEY ODOMETER Feb. 19 1924.

Filed Jan. 6, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheetl ATTORNEY Feb. 1-9 1924. ,Y 1,484,501j E. Rg, HUNTLEY ODOMETER Filed Jan. 6, 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l v 23 AINVENTOR.

H' E' y Effe# R /fl//r//ey Y PBx/Z E E l 'ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 19,1924.

UNITED STATES g 1,484,501 PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST R. HUNTLEY, or TOLEDO, oHIo, AsSIGNoR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, ToIN- DUSTRIAL RESEARCH CORPORATION, or TOLEDO, oHIo; A CORPORATION orDELA- WARE.

ODOMETER.

Application med January e, 1919. serriaiNo. 269,879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST R. HUN-TLEY, residing at Toledo, county ofLucas, and State of Ohio, have invented certainvnew and usefulImprovements in Odometers, ofL

which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription.

This invention relates kto speedometers and more particularly to theodometer thereof.

The principal object of thisinvention is to provide means forresiliently retaining' lthe transfer pinions in mesh with the transferelements on the registering wheels to effect smoother co-operation ofthese parts and eliminate the possibility of these parts binding.

Another object of the invention is to provide combined means forresiliently mounting the transfer pinions and supporting one end of arotating shaft. ,y n

With these incidental objects in view the invention consists of certainnovel features of invention and combination of parts, the essentialelements of which are set forth in the appended claims and the preferredform of embodiment of which is hereinafter described with reference tothe drawings which accompany and form part of this specification.

Of said drawings:

Fig. I is a front view of the speedometer` with the speed graduated dialpartly broken away to disclose the odometer.

Fig. II is a detail cross-sectional view taken substantially on therline II--II of F ig. I. n

ig. III is a front elevation of the frame carrying the variousmechanisms.

Fig. IV is a detail cross-sectional view through the frame, the sectionbeing taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. III.

Fig. V is a cross-sectional view through the frame, the section beingtaken as on the line V-V of Fig. III.

Referring to Fig. I of the drawing, the speedometer is mounted in acasing ,20 having a fiange 21 by which it is secured to the instrumentboard or other Suitable part of the vehicle.

The supporting frame 23` (Figs. III, IVv

and V) is of skeleton form and comprises a plate portion 24 and anintegral curvedl portion 25. Projecting` from this frame are threeintegral arms, 26, 27 and 28 on the outer ends of which is mountedtheindicating dia1"29 (Fig. I), having the usual speed graduated g scale.

Mounted on a rod`30 (Figs. I and II),

the usualsight openings in the dial 29. The

construction-o f-these wheels and the operating means for the unitswheel ofeach register`are'more fully shown vand described in co-pend'ingapplication, Serial No. 269,337, filed January 2, 1919, and referencemay be had thereto if desired.

Securedto the left hand side of each` reg-A isteringwheel 31 and 32 isthe usual notched disc 34 and securedto the right hand yside is theusual gear 33 (Fig. I). Co-operating with each disc 34 of oneregistering wheel andv the gear 33 of the registering wheel of the nexthigher order is a transfer pinion 35 (Fig. II) loosely mounted on a rod36.

Asis well known in'thefart, the pinions'35` are provided' with alternatelong' and short teeth so that as one registering wheei passes from` 99yto 0 the notch in its disc 34 cooperateswith a longtooth on thecorresponding pinion 35 and thereby rotates this7 ing transferringoperations, with the result that these operations are not smooth andeasy and possibly the teeth become worn or break. In order to eliminatethis difficulty and overcome the friction resulting therefrom, the rod`36 is resiliently mounted to move bodily and slightly away from theVregistering wheels when one or more of the transfer pinions tend to bindwith the corresponding gears and discs on the registering wheels. Tothis end a plate or member 38 of flexible metal is formed with a centralportion 39 (Figs III,VIV and V) and end portionsv 40 bent at. rightangles to the cenerally extending flanges 41 forming bases by which themember 38 is mounted on the frame Q3 by means of screws as shown in Fig.lll. The end portions 40 of the member 38 are provided with slots 42 inwhich the ends of the shaft 36 are positioned. Integral with each endportion l0 and to one side thereof is a spring finger 43, which isconnected at its lower end to the portion 4r) and is free at its upperend. rllhe member 38 is cut or stamped from a. plate of sheet metal andthen the member is bentto form the end portions et() the bases L.l1 andthe tingers 3. As shown in Fig. 1V t-he lingers i3 engage the rod 36 sothat the fingers together with the lower side of the slots 42 supportthe rod 36.

From the above description it can be seen that the fingers 43, which actas leaf springs, support the rod 36 in the grooves a2 and that whenthere is any imperfect action between the transfer pinions and the discs3l and the gears 33, while transfers are being effected the rod 36 ismoved slightly outward from the registering wheels against the action ofthe spring lingers which after the transfer is effected or the imperfectaction is passed move the rod and transfer pinions to their normalpositions, the transfer pinions 35 being retained in engagement vith thegears 33 at all times.

The indicating mechanism and odometer are operated by an operating shaft45. (Fig. l1). This shaft, which is arranged obliquely te the frame issupported at one end by ball bearings 46 mounted in a bearing cup 47 andat its opposite end is supported by ball bearings i8 mounted in abearing plate 49 fast on the frame 23. The bearing cup 47 is mounted inone end of al tubular extension 50 of the frame. rlhe lower end of theshaft is provided with a pin 57 adapted for connection with the one endOf the flexible shaft (not shown) driven by a moving part of thevehicle, as is well known in practice.

Screw threads 5S formed on the upper end of the shaft #l5 mesh with agear 59 which actuates the registering wheels of the odometer as fullydescribed in the aforesaid co-pending application.

The lgovernor shaft G1 (Fig. Il) has cenical ends and its right hand endis supported by ball bearings mounted in a bearing cup GQ'suppoi-ted inan opening in the frame 23. rllhe left hand end of the shaft issupported by ball bearings mounted. in a bearing cup 63 which ispositioned in an opening in the center of the central portion 39 of themember 33 (Figs. HI and V). The portion 39 of the member 3S is flexibleand the member 38 er that portion lying between the ends et() is somounted in respect to the shaft 61 that the portion 39 is slightly bowedto press the bearings firmly against the end of the shaft. 1t is obviousthat with this form of supporting means the wear of the shaft at thebearings is automatically taken care of as the portion 39 is constantlytending to straighten out. This form of mounting prevents the shaft frombecoming loose in the bearings and therefore eliminates all noise whichwould accompany such looseness.

Thc governor and operating connections are more fully shown anddescribed in copending application Serial No. 269,339, liled January 2,1919, and are not shown or described in much detail herein, as the novelfeatures claimed herein do not reside in the specific forni of governoror operating connections. Fast on the shaft 61, near its right hand endas viewed in (Figure Il), is :i frame ($9 provided with three pairs oflaterally extending arms T Pivoted between each pair of arms is a barrelshaped weight 7e which is eut away on one side of its axis so as toleave a circular projection 7 The right hand end of a ribbon 79, whichis formed of metal or other suitable material, is fastened to eachweight 74. A sleeve b2 is loose on lthe shaft 6l and a coiled spring SG,which is compressed between the sleeve S2 :ind the frame (39, tends tomove the sleeve 82 axially toward the left. The left hand ends of theribbon 79 are fastened to the sleeve SQ. Fast on the shaft l5 is a wormgear 90 meshing with the worm 91 cut in the governor shaft (il so thatthe shaft rotates the governor shaft.

Normally, when the shaft (S1 is not rotating the spring 86 retains thesleeve 82 in the position shown in (Fig. Il) and through the ribbons T9,causes the weights to assume the positions shown in this figure. lVhenthe shaft 61 is rotated the weights Til rotate about their a.\;isbecause of the centrifugal action and move the sleeve 82 toward theright against the action of the spring 86, the errcent of movement ofthe sleeve SQ being dependent upon the speed of rotation as is readilyunderstood.

A member 93, pivoted on the frame 2'), has one arm 91 carrying a stud 95projecting into a groove 96 in the sleeve 82. The member 93 also has anarm 9T having teeth meshing with a pinion 9S fast on a shaft 100carrying the indicator hand 102 (Fig. l). A coiled spring 103 (Fig. Il)is connected to the member to move the member and hence the indicatr'irhand 192 to norn'ial position. lt can be seen that movement of thesleeve 82 by the governor rotates the meinber 93 to correspondingextents as the stud extends into the o nove 95 in the sleeve Thisrotation ot tr nien. ier 93 is coniniunicated to the indicating handthrough the arm 93, gear 9S and shaft 190 so that the indicating hand ismoved over the scale on the dial to indicate the speed of the vehicle.

While the kform of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted lll() to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to beunderstood that it is not intended to confine the invention to the oneform of embodiment herein described, for it is susceptible of embodimentin various forms all coming Within the scope of the claims which follow.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States and claim is:

l. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality ofregistering units, transfer devices co-operating with said units, commonmeans for supporting said transfer devices, and means co-operating withsaid supporting means to retain resiliently the transfer devices inco-operating relation with said registering units.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality ofregistering wheels, transfer elements on said Wheels, transfer pinionsco-operating with said transfer elements, a rod supporting said pinions,and resilient means supporting said rod.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality ofregistering units, transfer devices co-operating with said registeringunits, a rod carrying said transfer devices, means for supporting saidrod, and spring fingers on said supporting means and co-operating withsaid rod to resiliently retain the transfer devices incooperatingaelation With the registering units.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality ofregistering Wheels, transfer elements on the registering wheels,transfer pinions meshing with the transfer Wheels, a rod carrying thetransfer pinions, stationary means supporting said rod, and spring meansco-operating with said rod to resiliently retain the transfer pi nionsin mesh with the transfer' wheels.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality ofregistering Wheels, transfer elements on the registering Wheels,transfer pinions meshing with the transfer elements, a rod carrying thetransfer pinions, stationary means supporting said rod, and springfingers on said supporting means and engaging said rod to resilientlyretain the transfer pinions in mesh with the transfer elements.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a plurality ofregistering units, transfer elements co-operating with the registeringunits, a rod carrying said transfer elements, sheet metal supportingmeans having slots in which the rod is positioned, and spring arms engaing the rod to retain resiliently the trans er elements in co-operatingrelation with the registering units.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of arplurality ofregistering units, transfer devices co-operating with the registeringunits, a rod carrying the transfer devices, plate portions having slotsfor guiding the rod, and a spring finger integral with each plateportion and to the one side of the plate portion for engaging the rod.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, aplurality of registering units, transfer devices co-operating with theregistering units, a rod carrying the transfer devices and a metal platehaving end portions supporting said rod, and spring fingers on said endportions co-operating with said rod.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft, aplurality of registering units, transfer devices co-operating with theregistering units, a rod carrying the transfer devices, a metal platecomprising end portions, having slots for guiding the rod and springfingers engaging the rod, and a central bowed portion supporting onecnf, of said shaft and adapted to resiliently press against said end ofthe shaft.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination of a shaft,registering units, transfer devices co-operating with the registeringunits, a rod carrying the registering units, a metal plate having endportions supporting said rod, and a flexible central portion, having abearing at its center for supporting one end of said shaft, said centralportion being slightly bowed by the end of said shaft.

11. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pluralityof registering units, transfer devices co-operating with the registeringunits, a rod carrying the transfer devices, a metal plate provided withend portions having slots for guiding the rod with spring fingersengaging the rod and a central bowed portion arranged to support one endof a shaft adapted to extend transversely of said bowed portion.

12. In a device of the class described, a sheet metal support havingparallel end walls, bearings therein for the ends of a shaft, atransverse connecting element joining said end Walls and supportedWholly thereby, said connecting element beingresilient and havingintermediate its ends a bearing adapted to receive one end of a shaftarranged at substantially right angles to the first named shaft.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

ERNEST R. HUNTLEY.

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